Care4Kids

The Department of Children and Families and the Department of Health Services are partnering to implement a new program to provide comprehensive, coordinated healthcare to children in out-of-home care (OHC). Care4Kids will begin in the following counties in southeast Wisconsin on January 1, 2014: Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, and Milwaukee Counties. The state is contracting with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to provide the Care4Kids program in this area of the state.

What is Care4Kids?

Care4Kids is a new Medicaid program that provides comprehensive and coordinated health care for children in out-of-home care, in a way that reflects the
unique health needs of these children.

Care4Kids provides children with primary care physicians who are
trained in the needs of children in Out-of-Home Care, and
also creates a team of professionals who coordinate care for the child.

Care4Kids will develop a comprehensive health plan for each child that meets the child’s unique needs.

What is the goal of Care4Kids?

This new approach to healthcare will:

Strengthen quality of care

Increase access to care

Improve timeliness of care

Improve physical and mental health outcomes for children

Promote improved resiliency

Create stronger natural support systems for children in Out-of-Home Care

Who is eligible for Care4Kids?

Initially, children entering out-of-home care through the child welfare system in Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, and Milwaukee counties.

Children already in out-of-home care in these counties will be phased in at a later date

Children placed in a Court Ordered Kinship home, a Level 1-5 foster home, or group home located in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington or Waukesha county

Initially, any child enrolled in the Milwaukee Wraparound program is not eligible for Care4Kids.

What benefits will children enrolled in Care4Kids receive?

An Out-of-Home Care Health Screen within 2 business days of entering care

A Comprehensive Initial Health Assessment within 30 days of entering care